Vision

At Lynsted, we value reading as a crucial life skill. By the time children leave us, they will see themselves as readers for both pleasure and purpose. Our readers will read confidently for meaning and be equipped with the tools to tackle unfamiliar vocabulary. Reading is at the heart of everything we do.

Our approach to the teaching of Reading.

At Lynsted and Norton School, our aim is to foster a love of reading that carries on into adulthood. Reading is given high profile within the school on a daily basis. We have children reading to themselves, individually to an adult, whole class and in small groups. All classes have a class book, so they can see adults modelling reading and expression. We want our children to become fluent and confident readers. The children also have access to our well stocked school library, meaning they can choose books that appeal to them. 

We start at the very beginning of learning to read, by using Little Wandle Letters and Sounds phonics in Reception. Children will continue having daily phonics lessons until they have mastered phase 5 sounds. Reading Practice sessions are also part of Little Wandle Letters and Sounds. These are taught every day and allow the children to embed their phonics knowledge in decodable reading books.  

The  Accelerated Reader program is also used when they are ready to progress from phonics.

The AR program enables the children to choose a book of their choice from a range of suitable texts that are accessible but still extending their reading skills. After each book, a short quiz assesses their comprehension and grasp of vocabulary. The AR program gives both the children and teachers valuable information about reading progress as well as helping to identify any areas of development for the child.  Parents and Carers can also be informed of their child’s success in the quizzes by signing up to the Home Connect facility on the AR program. For more information about AR, click here.

What does Reading look like in class?

Children will complete the reading scheme alongside Little Wandle Letters and Sounds, which matches with their phonic ability as they progress through the phonics phases. Once they have reached the end of Phase 5 phonics, they will be assessed using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds assessments to ensure that this is now ‘banked learning’. If children can read all GPCs and meet the assessment criteria set out by Little Wandle, they will move on to the school’s guided reading lessons.Children will complete the reading scheme alongside Little Wandle Letters and Sounds, which matches with their phonic ability as they progress through the phonics phases. Once they have reached the end of Phase 5 phonics, they will be assessed using the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds assessments to ensure that this is now ‘banked learning’. If children can read all GPCs and meet the assessment criteria set out by Little Wandle, they will move on to the school’s guided reading lessons.

From when the children complete Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Phonic Scheme, whole class guided reading sessions are taught. Guided Reading strategies are introduced in from Year 2, however Little Wandle Letter and Sounds will still run along side this for the children who need this.

Guided Reading, using the strategy of VIPERS, is taught for 20-30 minutes four times each week. VIPERS focus on Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explanation, Retrieval and Summary (sequence KS1). Each half term, a different whole class text is used and questions stems are given to children to help build the skills of answering questions using specific vocabulary.

Within Guided Reading lessons, children are heard reading aloud and have the opportunity to read in learning partners.

Reading for pleasure

In each classroom you will find reading is being promoted through class displays showcasing children’s voice, texts we have previously enjoyed and why, probing/leading questions and highlights books to come.

Our library is stocked with a range of fiction and non-fiction texts for the children to use and borrow. During lunchtimes, children are able to come into the library to browse the books and either choose one to enjoy then or to take home. Classes also have a weekly slot where they can come in and use the library to explore the collection of texts we have or listen to an adult read a story.

Assessment

Reading is continuously assessed by both teachers and Teaching Assistants. Formative assessment takes place daily through phonics session, phonics groups, guided reading including VIPERS and hearing children read. The children have a reading book that follows on from the Little Wandle and the progress to banded books and free readers. The children’s reading is assessed by the teacher and TA who will move the child’s reading stage up a level. Summative assessment take place in Years 2-6. The children complete a reading comprehension paper. This is used in conjunction with formative assessments to assess each child.

Inclusion

We believe that all our children can make progress and be successful in reading; we have high expectations for all. Our emphasis on reading vocabulary, to develop the children’s understanding of text and the world around them. Skills are taught in small steps to ensure that children master each part before moving on. Reading comprehension interventions for children who have not mastered these steps allow children to keep up rather than catch up. Visual texts are used to support children who may need further support. In-class small focus groups, also support all children to be included and successful.

SMSC and Cultural Capital

At Lynsted, the children’s opportunities to experience spirituality is paramount. We believe that spirituality is all around us and can be experienced in the smallest of things like a cloud formation or a passing bumble bee. Reading gives our children the opportunity to experience spirituality in a book, to escape to a faraway land or learn about civilizations of the past. Through books, children can learn and discuss social and moral issues that occur in the world today. At Lynsted, we pride ourselves on the diversity if books we read including: Journey to Jo’burg, The Firework-Maker’s Daughter. The books we select ensure children have the opportunity to discuss current affairs and historical events such as climate change and slavery. Through reading in both English and RE, the children have opportunities to explore moments of spirituality and awe and wonder.

We have a newly redeveloped library, where the children have a library card and can check out and in books. This gives the children the experience of visiting a library and diving into a book. The library books are both fiction and non-fiction and the children have free choice.

Pupil voice November 2024 - carried out by subject lead.

When discussing who our favourite authors are and why...

Year 5 - "Adam Blade (Beast Quest), there is so much adventure - it feels like I'm in the book and know what's happening." 

Year 4 - "Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants), his characters are so funny!"

Year 3 - "I also like the author of Captain Underpants because he writes Dog Man too."